by Martin Dansky

Created on: June 26, 2008

I can understand there is a need for certain countries to expand and exploit but insatiable exploitation has to be checked. This is especially important for nations which do not have a majority of the world's population to feed nor do they speak for the hungriest nations on the earth that have never had a fair share of the world's economic pie under the current system of being dominated by the 'have' nations.

Debating a possible 'grabbing' of a continent largely uninhabitable is sickening in itself especially when it was supposed to be kept as a model of no exploitation. One does realize then how fat treaties and verbal agreements work in this world of constant corruptive practices. Aren't countries like Britain supposed to be concentrating on integrating into a larger Europe instead?

There is always the sense of national pride especially when claiming land is related to an explorer's trip. Here Scott was not successful altogether so surely Britain cannot use him as an excuse to claim land. And then one has only to undercover some of the brutality associated with expeditions to unaccommodating lands to reason that much of the sentiment behind lauding these explorers is unfounded. They only became famous in so much as their expeditions were advertised. Nobody then questioned the effect they would initiate by their presence and how they would even ruin the lives of the local inhabitants they displaced on their hunt for fame.
I am referring to Perry's journey to the other pole but think that can be used as an example of the ill effects the average knowledgeable person does not want to see happening at the present time.

Supposedly gone are the days of colonialism but it looks like the presence Britain wants to have on the south tip of the world goes hand in hand with their desire never to give up their insatiable domination of the seas. So I think their desire to grab this vast continent is a last ditch effort to turn back the clock and make their presence felt again around the world as if Iraq and Afghanistan are not reminders enough. Clearly there is also a need for fuel for this populous nation, which is experiencing a hike in petrol prices, but then again shouldn't they be investing more time into alternative sources and trying to make electric vehicles a reality?

Currently the world is experiencing a melting of the ice caps happening through greenhouse gasses. The continued presenc of nations bent on exploring here for more resources will only damage the climate further. Here is where capitalism has to be checked.

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